Council of Ministers: Establish a 'green' priority corridor for the Western Balkans

The BiH Council of Ministers adopted the Information on the implementation of the conclusions of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and defined operational measures to stop the spread of coronavirus (SARS - Cov - 2/Covid 19), proposed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers will submit the Information to the BiH Presidency. The information lists the activities and decisions made by the Council of Ministers in the period from March 17, 2020, to date, to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

The conclusions of the BiH Presidency have been implemented, and intensive communication with international financial institutions has been established.

We remind you that the BiH Council of Ministers, even before the Presidency's Conclusion, held its 2nd extraordinary session on March 5, 2020, where it took note of the Information on measures taken in Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the prevention and suppression of the spread of the new coronavirus infectious disease (Covid – 19). At its 4th extraordinary session held on March 15, 2020, the Council of Ministers adopted the Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A meeting was held in Doboj on March 14, 2020, regarding the coronavirus outbreak, attended by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, and the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH. It was decided that all citizens arriving in BiH from abroad would go into a 14-day isolation, and the decision would take effect on March 16. It was agreed to establish two headquarters to deal with the health and economic aspects and to create measures and recommendations for the entity governments and the Council of Ministers to overcome these difficulties. The Council of Ministers is daily considering all necessary measures within its jurisdiction to combat the spread of the Covid – 19 virus, and activities will continue.

The BiH Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Chairman, adopted the Information on activities that need to be implemented for Bosnia and Herzegovina to accede to the Joint Procurement Agreement. Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zoran Tegeltija will sign and send a letter to the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety expressing BiH's intention to sign the Joint Procurement Agreement, initiated by the European Commission.

The purpose of this joint agreement mechanism is to enable fairer access to urgently needed medical protection measures, including balanced prices for beneficiary/participating countries of the Agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with exploring the possibility of implementing a special ratification procedure for this agreement to expedite its application. The BiH Council of Ministers adopted the Information from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on the common list of vital products determined by the CEFTA Secretariat regarding facilitating traffic due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will submit the common list to all competent institutions in BiH for this area. This list includes, among other things, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, vegetables, and fruits. The list of essential products important for the population will be treated through a so-called green priority lane during transit at certain border crossings. The BiH Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, adopted a joint proposal by the Joint Secretariat of the Transport Community and the CEFTA Secretariat to facilitate the transport and trade of essential goods with the Western Balkans.

The aim of this document is to facilitate trade and transport of goods by addressing only those additional precautionary measures that have been taken or need to be taken to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The joint measures aim to improve communication, establish a "green" priority corridor for the Western Balkans, maximize the use of the road network, and focus attention on common border crossings. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and the Ministry of Communications and Transport will regularly report to the Council of Ministers on the implementation of the measures from the joint proposal. The BiH Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, adopted the Decision on amendments to the Decision on the temporary closure of border crossings in air traffic for passenger transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision will apply until April 30, 2020, at 24:00.

In this way, the landing and takeoff of all aircraft engaged in passenger transport in international air traffic at airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina are prohibited, in order to protect against the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Exceptions include, among others, humanitarian flights, emergency medical transport, search and rescue transport, mail and cargo transport, as well as technical flights without passenger disembarkation and forced landings.

The BiH Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, adopted the Decision on requesting international assistance for protection and rescue. With this decision, Bosnia and Herzegovina requests international assistance for protection and rescue for the needs of prevention, protection, treatment of the sick, and suppression of the SARS-CoV2 virus outbreak, and tasked the competent institutions, bodies, and authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to carry out the necessary procedures for its acceptance.

This includes medical equipment, detection materials and supplies for SARS-CoV2 virus infected individuals, protective equipment, disinfectants, temporary facilities, field hospitals, generators, as well as financial assistance.

The Council of Ministers adopted the Report of the Ministry of Defense on the engagement of the Armed Forces of BiH to provide assistance to civilian authorities in preventing the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) with a proposal for measures. It was concluded that the allocation of Armed Forces facilities housing members of the AFBiH for precautionary and protective measures should not be carried out until absolutely necessary and without a specific decision from the BiH Presidency.

The Ministry of Defense will, in accordance with available resources, approve funds and equipment in coordination with the Coordination Body of the BiH Council of Ministers for Protection and Rescue, and upon the prior assessment by this body that the possibilities and resources of municipal, cantonal, and entity crisis headquarters formed to suppress the impact and spread of the coronavirus have been exhausted.

The Council of Ministers adopted a Conclusion expressing its commitment that extraordinary sessions of the BiH Council of Ministers can be held via video conference, when circumstances require, during a state of natural or other disaster in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.